#direction au

cry babies @empanadastheresurrection

I cannot resist big beautiful princess hair

i had to make him move 👀 @empanadastheresurrection

Idk it just came over me when I saw the art with these three. But also I didn't want to exclude human!Steven. So yeah here's four of them. Brittle Diamonds AU - @altades

Separation AU - @pogostikk

Direction AU is a cannon divergence AU of Steven Universe in which He never made it back to earth after the events of "I Am My Mom"

The protagonist is Connie, grappling with grief, power imbalances amongst the Crystal gems, and a person she thought was her best friend, unrecognizable after spending six years on Homeworld.

Comic Masterpost

Ficlets Masterpost

Character Sheets Masterpost (work in progress!!!)

It happens only for a second. But it shakes them to their core. How did this happen? Oh, right.

Connie was in his bed, in his arms, but it wasn't like the usual things they'd regret and deny in the morning. She was just tired, tired of this goddamn planet, tired of the Diamonds, and tired of the constant battle in her head of convincing herself she didn't see her Steven even in his Diamond eyes and frown. Mentally and physically exhausted, she went to his bed, and when he had a snarky remark, she didn't fight back. For once in the longest time she can remember, there wasn't any left in her. He doesn't say anything, but she knows he understands because he simply makes room, and when she fits into him, he starts to smooth a large hand over her head.

"Can you sing?" She asks, and she instantly knows she'll hate herself for it later. But right now her brain is angry, painful static, and it's overriding any rational thought. Homeworld was eerily quiet. She thinks it's one of the reasons she comes to fight him so much. Even if it's yelling, at least he talks to her; his room has music, and there are sounds of things like the scuffing of shoes and running water, which no other gem seems to make.

Steven freezes like he heard something he shouldn't have, and she understands. It's too personal for them. The thread and trust between them had been broken for so long, and what's replaced them is to stay unsaid and a bitter desire. But then her hand squeezes impossibly tight on his nightgown until her knuckles turn white. It only takes another second before he clears his throat and starts to hum. Maybe it was his Diamond powers, or maybe it was because she was so damn tired she'd fall asleep to any noise at this point, but she melts to the sound, and her body softens, and sleep surrounds her before she knows it.

Connie doesn't know how long she's been asleep, but her dream was good enough that even when she wakes, she keeps her eyes closed to hold on to it a little longer. But when she finally does open her eyes, he's staring at her, his diamond eyes lighting slightly in the dark room.

She's startled, but it doesn't scare her. And they just watch each other for what seems like an eternity. She studies his face, his breath, and the sharp jawline that's replaced his chubby cheeks, but his hair is still a frizzy mess like it's always been after he's lied down. She snorts and rolls her eyes, and his eyes burrow suspiciously. "What?"

"I was thinking even though you're an absolute asshole." She reaches out, pulling on a curl. "You really have become handsome, Steven."

He searches her eyes cautiously, waiting for her to attack, but when it doesn't come right away, he can't help it and adds, "You're everything there is."

She meets his eyes, and it happens. Just for a moment. Not even to completion. But a glow fills the room. They fuse.

And everything falls apart. They fall back and look at each other, horrified. That was nothing like it ever was. The hate and bile they feel towards the people they've become, both for each other and themselves, only doubled and solidified. Every doubt and crushing insecurity about their relationship all at once. And how fucked up all of it was they still wanted each other.

She jumps off the bed, and he sits up, crushing his bed stand to shattered pieces. They look at each other with betrayal and bile. What the fuck were they doing? Did they really think for even a moment they could be the same? Of course not.

"Not anymore." Her mind rings, and he hears it.

His face sours into something ugly, and he towers over her, spitting back. "Never."

"Fuck you, get out of my head," she yells.

"Fuck YOU. You think I want to you, lunatic? Get out of MY head."

"I HATE YOU, PINK!"

Something in him snaps, and he chuckles darkly. And he shoots her a condescending grin. "No, you don't." He leans over her. "You can't. You tried, I know."

Her eyes sting, but she refuses to cry in front of the bastard. "I'll kill you. Watch."

"No, you won't, you coward."

"At least I'm not a walking disappointment." She sneers.